Senator Mary Margaret Haugen has been a constant strong supporter of the emergency services community. When firefighter training was suffering in Island County and throughout the state, she listened to our concerns and worked to search out funds for fire training that were being collected from insurance companies, but not shared with all departments in the state, and to transfer these funds to a dedicated fund to help fund firefighter training in all departments. She accomplished this without any tax increase. These funds have helped the fire departments in Island County to build an excellent fire training program that is the only volunteer academy in the state to be accredited. She is often present at our annual recruit academy graduation celebration.

Sen. Haugen was the first legislator to visit and tour the state training center in North Bend. She put on full bunker gear and observed training going on in the burn building and on the grounds. Our communities need the best emergency services available and she has given us advice and support on related rules and laws that have come before the Legislature, as well as continually helping us secure funding for training.

Sen. Haugen is one of the most dedicated legislators in the state and has the knowledge and know-how to get things done, not only for our areas, but for the entire state as well.

Dr. Stan Anderson

Battalion Chief Retired

Central Whidbey Island Recruit Academy Administrator